Regular news supported by regular people

by Melanie Jongsma, Publisher

LANSING, Ill. (August 2, 2021) – At first I was surprised to look back at July and see that The Lansing Journal had published “only” 114 stories during the month. We have been steadily growing in so many ways, and I expected growth in article quantity as well.

But I was making the mistake of comparing this July to last July — and last July was July 2020. So the 135 stories we published last July included daily COVID data, vaccination information, and other health updates from regional and state sources. Much of that news was out of the mix this past month, so our 114 articles were focused on “regular” local news.

That kind of regular, normal, everyday, garden-variety, local news is possible because regular, ordinary people support this local newspaper. This is not an emotional decision they make in response to a dramatic appeal. They simply appreciate having local reporters at their softball games, ribbon-cuttings, and board meetings. No drama. No crisis. Just solid, relevant information about small-town life in Lansing and beyond.

There are over 120 regular people who gave money this month to support the regular, local reporting we do. Most of those are monthly supporters — and their monthly gifts provide the solid base we need to keep reporting, publishing, and delivering regular news every day.

Will you scan the list below and just say a quick thank-you for these regular people who give regularly?

Thank you, July supporters

1. Lindsey and Saad Abbasy
2. Friend of The Lansing Journal
3. Karen Adams
4. American Legion Riders
5. Donna Marshall Attinello
6. Judith Beezhold
7. Dan Bergan
8. Barry Bergstrom
9. Lisa and Bob Berridge
10. Marlene Biesboer
11. Bob Boer
12. Susan Bovino
13. Theresa Bresnahan
14. Maryann Centracchio
15. Laurel Clausing
16. Greg and Jane Compeau
17. Marlene Cook
18. Diane Costello
19. Denise Cox
20. Kerry Czarobski
21. Debbie DeNardo
22. Fran Duffy
23. Barb Dust
24. Rich Dust
25. Donald Dykstra
26. Roseann Dykstra
27. Alexa Edwards
28. Sandra Farmer
29. Frank Fetters
30. Fine Tune Auto
31. Marilyn Freeman
32. Jim and Judy Friesema
33. Tina Funchion
34. Rebecca Furlong
35. Carol Gadbois
36. Rebecca Garcia
37. Edward Gonzalez
38. Evelyn Gossman
39. Jacob Gourley
40. Cynthia Griffiths
41. Patty Grigutis
42. Peter Hansen
43. Cam and Megan Harvey
44. Julie Hiskes
45. Ted and Helen Hnatusko
46. Marjorie Holme
47. Mark Hornung
48. Donna Huizenga
49. Stephanie Jansma
50. James Janssen
51. Melanie Jongsma
52. Friends of The Lansing Journal
53. Jean Klacik
54. Frank Knittle
55. Judith Koch
56. Anita Kowalisyn
57. Pat Kremer
58. Cynthia Krusza
59. Pamela Lancy
60. Bruce Langman
61. Lansing Assembly
62. Clem and Barb Lessner
63. Jim and Suzanne Long
64. Luci Lugowski
65. Kathleen Maanum
66. Kathy Maanum
67. Dehlia Mendoza
68. Lynda Mendoza
69. Roberto Mendoza
70. Christine Merchat
71. Chuck Murach
72. Marilou Ooms
73. Grant Oppenhuis
74. Ellen Osterman
75. Mary Beth Palka
76. Thomas Panichi
77. Robert Parrent
78. Moira Peterson
79. Richard Podgorski
80. Rosemarie Polgar
81. Jennifer Polley
82. Jay and Chris Popp
83. Joanne Pritchard
84. Rosalie Prystalski
85. Jean Qualls
86. Penelope Rellis
87. Rose Rivas
88. Jane Roseen
89. Friend of The Lansing Journal
90. Jennifer Saia
91. Wendy Sanders
92. Carol Schaap
93. Sandy Schultz
94. Schultz Insurance Agency
95. Dave Schurman
96. Pete and Shirley Schurman
97. Gloria and Robert Sharer
98. Connie Simon
99. Todd Simon
100. Slaughter & Associates
101. Michelle Smith
102. Frieda Smits
103. Richard Smits
104. Chris and Trudy Spoor
105. Kelsee Stallinga
106. John Stole
107. Jim Sweeney
108. Linda Todd
109. Friends of The Lansing Journal
110. Virginia and John Ulaszek
111. Leo Valencia
112. James Van Milligen
113. Gerrit Veenstra
114. Tim Vermeer
115. Sandy Vree
116. Scott Wagner
117. Phyllis Warsen
118. Waters Edge Aquascaping
119. Dana Wood
120. Robert Wood
121. Patricia Yos
122. Chris Zdanowski

P.S. Maybe you would like to be a regular person making regular donations to the work your local newspaper does every day. Consider signing up as a monthly supporter at just $12/month. At that level, in a regular month like July, you’d be paying about 10¢ per story. What a deal!